Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 29 Jan 2008 [PDF] Incorrectly labeled as Jan. 26, 2008
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• Operation Iron Boston Targets al Qaeda Hideout Army News 29 Jan 2008 -- Iraqi and U.S. Soldiers air assaulted into the Sa'id Abdullah Corridor Jan. 27.
• Troop Decisions Hinge on Conditions in Iraq AFPS 29 Jan 2008 -- The number of troops needed in Iraq, the length of the tours for those troops, the kinds of troops they need to be, and other such decisions rely on the conditions on the ground in Iraq, Defense Department officials said today.
• Coalition Forces in Iraq Capture 18 Suspected Terrorists AFPS 29 Jan 2008 -- Coalition forces in Iraq today detained 18 suspected terrorists during operations to disrupt al Qaeda networks operating in the central and northern parts of the country, military officials said.
• RCT-1 takes command in Al Anbar MNF-I 29 Jan 2008 -- Regimental Combat Team 6 officially transferred authority of its area of operations to Regimental Combat Team 1 during a ceremony aboard Camp Fallujah, Jan. 27.
• Missile strike kills 12 militants in Pakistan's tribal region IRNA 29 Jan 2008 -- A missile strike in Pakistan's tribal region has killed 12 suspected militants, local tribesmen and TV channels reported on Tuesday.
• Pakistani Police Battle Militants in Karachi VOA 29 Jan 2008 -- Police in Pakistan's largest city, Karachi, say at least two police officers and two militants have been killed in an intense gunbattle.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Bush Looks Ahead in Last State of the Union Speech 29 Jan 2008 -- President Bush has delivered his final State of the Union Address to Congress and the American people.
• Reaction to Bush Address Follows Partisan Lines VOA 29 Jan 2008 -- Reaction to President Bush's State of the Union address is predictably along partisan lines. Members of his Republican Party praised his leadership and the goals he proposed on domestic and foreign issues, while majority Democrats criticized him on the same issues
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Press Secretary Morrell from the Pentagon 29 Jan 2008 -- Presenter: Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell
• Makin Island Coming to San Diego Navy NewsStand 29 Jan 2008 -- Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Makin Island (LHD 8) currently under construction by Northrop-Grumman Ship Systems is scheduled to be delivered to the U.S. Navy Nov. 14, 2008 in Pascagoula.
• First aerial bombing mission at Kwajalein complete AFPN 29 Jan 2008 -- B-2 Spirit stealth bombers from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., completed the first aerial bombing mission at the Ronald Regan Test Site on the Kwajalein Atoll in the western chain of the Marshall Islands of Guam, Jan. 23.
• Lakenheath weapons sections merge, improve maintenance AFPN 29 Jan 2008 -- Airmen from two F-15E Strike Eagle weapons sections here recently consolidated as part of an Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century initiative to become one of the largest weapons section in U.S. Air Forces in Europe.
• Air Force officials activate first air ground operations wing AFPN 29 Jan 2008 -- The unit activation and assumption of command of the Air Force's first wing solely dedicated to supporting battlefield Airmen took place during a ceremony here Jan. 25.
• Defense Department Seeks $70 Billion for Terror War AFPS 29 Jan 2008 -- President Bush is asking Congress to approve $70 billion as partial payment for global war on terrorism operations in fiscal 2009, Defense Department officials said today.
• Troops to Receive Retroactive Pay Next Month AFPS 29 Jan 2008 -- Active duty troops will receive retroactive earnings next month, followed weeks later by a supplemental payday for non-active personnel, a Pentagon official said today.
• President Addresses Military Families; Army Programs Focus on Family Care Improvements Army News Release 29 Jan 2008 -- President George W. Bush discussed the vital role of military families, including Army Families, during the Jan. 28 State of the Union address to the nation from Washington, D.C.
• Army Testing Privatized Housing for Unaccompanied Soldiers Army News 29 Jan 2008 -- As part of the Residential Communities Initiative, the Army is privatizing housing for Soldiers and their families, and a pilot program under RCI is also providing billeting for unaccompanied NCOs and officers.
• U.S. Fleet Forces Command Addresses Navy Sonar and the Environment Navy NewsStand 29 Jan 2008 -- Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, recently recorded a podcast to inform Sailors about the Navy's use of active sonar in its training exercises, and ongoing litigation.
• Renowned Submariner Reaches Final Destination Navy NewsStand 29 Jan 2008 -- USS Pasadena (SSN-752) bid farewell to the decorated submarine hero, retired Rear Adm. Eugene B. Fluckey, during a burial-at-sea, Jan. 24, in the South China Sea.
• NAS JRB New Orleans Reaches Environmental Milestone Navy NewsStand 29 Jan 2008 -- The recycling facility on board Naval Air Station, Joint Reserve Base (NAS JRB), New Orleans, reached a significant milestone Jan. 24, marking the processing of more than 300,000 pounds of recyclable material.
• SECNAV Views ASW Exercise Aboard USS Abraham Lincoln Navy NewsStand 29 Jan 2008 -- The Honorable Donald C. Winter, Secretary of the Navy, and several reporters visited the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (CSG) Jan. 26 to observe how the Navy conducts Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) training using mid-frequency, active sonar while protecting marine life.
• Carrier Air Wing 1 Change of Command Navy NewsStand 29 Jan 2008 -- Commander, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 held a change of command ceremony at Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana, Norfolk, Jan. 25.
• India eyes deal with U.S. to replace aging Russian warplanesRIA Novosti> 29 Jan 2008 -- India has begun talks with the United States on the purchase of P-8i long-range maritime reconnaissance patrol aircraft to replace Russian-made Tu-142M bombers, the Times of India said on Tuesday.
• Russia Air Force to adopt new training helicopter by 2010 RIA Novosti 29 Jan 2008 -- The Ansat training helicopter will enter service with Russia's Air Force by 2010, once government tests and initial operation with military units are completed, a senior military official said Tuesday.
• Russian Bear bombers join final drills in N. Atlantic RIA Novosti 29 Jan 2008 -- Six Tu-95MS Bear strategic bombers joined on Tuesday a Russian naval task force in the Atlantic to take part in the final stage of the current naval exercise, an Air Force spokesman said.
• Russia Air Force will receive new attack helicopters in 2009 RIA Novosti 29 Jan 2008 -- The new Mi-28N Night Hunter helicopter gunship will continue to be fine-tuned by the manufacturer in 2008, after which it will be adopted for service, a senior military official said on Tuesday.
• Russia Air, Ground Forces to conduct joint drills in April RIA Novosti 29 Jan 2008 -- Units of Russia's Air Force and Ground Forces will conduct a joint exercise in the country's Caspian region in April 2008, a senior military official said on Tuesday.
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 29 Jan 2008

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for January 03, 2008
• BAE SYSTEMS DELIVERS MOKYS PROTOTYPES TO SLOVAK MoD BAE Systems 29 Jan 2008 -- BAE Systems has delivered the first seven prototypes of a mobile military communications system (MOKYS) to the Slovak Ministry of Defense (MoD).
• BAE SYSTEMS SELLS AVRO RJ100 TO BAHRAIN DEFENCE FORCE BAE Systems 29 Jan 2008 -- BAE Systems Regional Aircraft has sold an Avro RJ100 regional jet to the Bahrain Defence Force, to bring its fleet of the type to three aircraft.
• Boeing Completes First KC-767 Tanker Night Refueling Boeing 29 Jan 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] made KC-767 program history Jan. 26 when one if its aircrews successfully transferred fuel from a KC-767 tanker aircraft to an F-15E at night -- the first nighttime refueling ever accomplished on a KC-767.
• Boeing Prepares Chinook Maintenance Crews for Service Boeing 29 Jan 2008 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA], through its Wilmington (Del.) Training Center, trained more than 425 U.S. and foreign military and company personnel in 2007, providing hands-on training opportunities for CH-47 Chinook helicopter maintainers.
• General Dynamics Team Completes Field Test and Design Review for Army's Warfighter Information Network Increment General Dynamics 29 Jan 2008 -- General Dynamics C4 Systems and teammate Lockheed Martin have successfully completed the engineering field test and preliminary design review for Increment Two of the Warfighter Information Network-Tactical (WIN-T), which means the program is on schedule to conduct limited user tests in 2008 and deploy new technology to soldiers in 2009
• SAIC Awarded Task Order to Support NSWC-Dahlgren SAIC 29 Jan 2008 -- Science Applications International Corporation (NYSE: SAI) announced today it won a task order from the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Dahlgren Division, Dahlgren, Va., to provide a wide range of support to the Surface Ship Undersea Warfare (USW) office.
• U.S. NAVY TEST CONFIRMS MISSILE FIRING CAPABILITY OF AEGIS OPEN ARCHITECTURE Lockheed Martin 28 Jan 2008 -- In a successful first test of its advanced fire control system, Lockheed Martin's [NYSE: LMT] Aegis Open Architecture Weapon System recently performed a successful missile firing from the U.S. Navy's "USS Desert Ship" at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR).
• LOCKHEED MARTIN AWARDED $35 MILLION CONTRACT TO MODERNIZE BRAZILIAN NAVY SUBMARINE FORCE Lockheed Martin 29 Jan 2008 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] was awarded a $35 million contract to deliver advanced, open-architecture combat systems that will modernize four Tupi-class submarines, one Tikuna-class submarine and one shore-based trainer system for the Brazilian Navy.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 29 Jan 2008
• MAURITANIA-SENEGAL: First refugees returning from Senegal get mixed welcome IRIN 29 Jan 2008 -- As Mauritanian refugees started their historic voyage from Senegal today, some Mauritanians said they feared the return would only burden the country and the returnees.
• UN officials warn of malnutrition threat as Gaza border crossings continue UN News Centre 29 Jan 2008 -- Every border crossing into the Gaza Strip from Israel remains closed, except for the import of fuel supplies, United Nations officials said today, warning that Palestinians face the rising threat of malnutrition if the current lockdown continues.
• UN agency resumes repatriation of Sudanese refugees from Kenyan camp UN News Centre 29 Jan 2008 -- The United Nations refugee agency has resumed its repatriation of Sudanese from a camp in the northwest of neighbouring Kenya after the operation had been temporarily suspended because of deadly tribal clashes.
• First set of Mauritanian refugees return home under UN programme UN News Centre 29 Jan 2008 -- Over 100 Mauritanian refugees, part of a group of 24,000 who fled to neighbouring Senegal over two decades ago, are returning to their home country today under a voluntary repatriation programme launched by the United Nations refugee agency after steps were taken by the governments concerned to address their plight.
• UN refugee agency needs $90 million more to help internally displaced persons UN News Centre 29 Jan 2008 -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is asking donors for more than $90 million to fund the agency's programmes assisting people who have fled within the borders of six conflict-torn countries this year.
• Morocco, Frente Polisario remain far apart on Western Sahara - Ban Ki-moon UN News Centre 29 Jan 2008 -- Morocco and the Frente Polisario are still far apart on how to provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, despite the two parties' commitment to a process of negotiations, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says in a new report.
• Kenya: UN reports sharp deterioration in security, humanitarian situation UN News Centre 29 Jan 2008 -- The post-electoral crisis in Kenya has taken a sharp turn for the worse in recent days with violence claiming many more lives and hampering relief efforts by United Nations agencies and their partners, further worsening an already dire situation.
• Abbas, Hamas Due in Cairo for Talks on Gaza Border VOA 29 Jan 2008 -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah and a delegation from the rival Hamas faction are due in Cairo for talks Wednesday on the future of Gaza's border with Egypt.
• UN's Somalia Envoy Says Country Faces Deepening Crisis VOA 29 Jan 2008 -- Somalia is facing the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, according to the UN refugee agency.
• UN Security Council Abandons Plans for Gaza Statement VOA 29 Jan 2008 -- After five days of consultations on the situation in the Gaza Strip, the U.N. Security Council has ended efforts to adopt a statement on the humanitarian situation there and the security situation in both Gaza and southern Israel
• UNHCR Appeals for $90 Million for IDPs VOA 29 Jan 2008 -- The U.N. refugee agency is launching a $90 million appeal to assist millions of internally displaced people (IDPs) in the Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Liberia and Uganda.
• EU Peacekeeping Force Chief Warns Chad, CAR Rebels Not to Interfere VOA 29 Jan 2008 -- The commander of the European Union peacekeeping mission to Chad and the Central African Republic has warned rebel groups in the region not to interfere with EU troops.
• Kenyan Parties Begin Formal Talks as Violence Rages VOA 29 Jan 2008 -- Kenya's feuding political factions have opened talks aimed at resolving the country's political crisis and ending a month of violence that has killed more than 800 people.
• EGYPT-OPT: Hamas, Egyptians cooperate on Gaza border IRIN 29 Jan 2008 -- The Palestinian Islamic group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, and Egyptian security forces have begun to close the breached Rafah border between Gaza and Egypt, leaving as of 29 January only a couple of small openings in the border fence.
• DRC: Cautious welcome for Kivu peace deal IRIN 29 Jan 2008 -- A peace agreement signed between the government and the various armed groups active in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), including the faction led by dissident general Laurent Nkunda, marks an important step towards restoring peace and stability in the region, according to analysts.
• CHAD: Ambitious plans to get 90,000 displaced to return home IRIN 29 Jan 2008 -- Some local and UN officials in Chad say a pledge by President Idriss Deby that half of the nearly 180,000 displaced people in Chad will return to their villages by July could happen if promises on security are met.
• DRC: Army kills 10 rebels in Ituri IRIN 29 Jan 2008 -- At least 10 rebels have been killed in clashes with government forces in the northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) region of Ituri, prompting thousands of civilians to take flight, according to military and humanitarian sources.
• SOMALIA: Kismayo's only hospital closes as aid workers killed IRIN 29 Jan 2008 -- Services at the only hospital in Somalia's coastal city of Kismayo, 500km south of the capital Mogadishu, stopped on 29 January, a day after four people - including two foreign aid workers - were killed in a blast, local sources told IRIN.
• KENYA: Tensions high as Annan-brokered talks begin IRIN 29 Jan 2008 -- The "official dialogue process" began on 29 January between Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and the opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), even as violence that has ravaged the country since late December continued to spread, with the latest casualty a Member of Parliament who was shot dead outside his home in Nairobi, the capital.
• KENYA: IDP children falling through protection cracks IRIN 29 Jan 2008 -- Violence in the Rift Valley town of Nakuru has seen the numbers of displaced at the town's largest camp skyrocket, but camp officials say it is becoming increasingly difficult to provide security for the IDPs, and children are being particularly affected.
• EU to approve new mission in Kosovo after Serbia polls RIA Novosti 29 Jan 2008 -- The European Union's foreign policy chief said on Tuesday that the EU will sanction the dispatch of a police force to Serbia's breakaway province of Kosovo after the country's presidential election.

News Reports

• Security Council voices outrage at latest assassination in Lebanon UN News Centre 29 Jan 2008 -- The Security Council today condemned last Friday's terrorist bombing in Lebanon that took the life of a senior member of the country's Internal Security Forces and also killed and injured several others, pledging to help the Government pursue the case.